CSKA Sofia Advances After Penalty Shootout Victory Over Qarabag

CSKA Sofia 0-0 Qarabag (5-4 on penalties) at Vasil Levski National Sports Academy in Sofia ended goalless over 120 minutes before the Bulgarians held their nerve from the spot to edge through in the UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round. With no league standings data available, the significance is purely knockout: CSKA advance after a tense shootout, while Qarabag exit despite having more of the ball and the better shooting numbers.

Match Report

The first half unfolded as a tight, physical contest with neither side able to convert territorial moments into clear chances. The opening flashpoint came on 39', when Bruno Jordão (CSKA Sofia) collected a yellow card for tripping, underlining the home side’s aggressive approach in midfield.

Soon after the restart, CSKA’s centre-forward Leandro Godoy went into the book on 48' for unsportsmanlike conduct, reflecting growing frustration as Qarabag began to impose themselves in possession. Qarabag’s own disciplinary line was crossed on 50', when Marko Janković received a yellow card for roughing, followed by another caution for the visitors on 55' as Bence Várkonyi was also booked for roughing.

The first wave of substitutions arrived on 70'. For Qarabag, Renaldo Cephas replaced Kady Borges, adding fresh legs in the attacking line. A minute later, on 71', CSKA responded by introducing James Eto'o, who replaced Bruno Jordão to bring renewed energy and ball-carrying from midfield.

Eto'o’s impact was double-edged. On 74', he received a yellow card for roughing, adding to CSKA’s mounting card count in a game that was increasingly stop-start. Qarabag then made a triple change on 82' to chase a breakthrough: Cebrail Makreckis replaced Bədavi Hüseynov, Bruno Langa came on for Elvin Cafarquliyev, and Jaly Mouaddib replaced Olexiy Kashchuk, collectively refreshing both full-back and attacking midfield roles.

CSKA made their second change on 89', with Joël Zwarts replacing Leandro Godoy up front, looking for a different profile in transition. Qarabag’s Abdellah Zoubir was then withdrawn at 90+2', with Joni Montiel entering to provide creativity between the lines in the closing stages of normal time.

Extra time continued in the same attritional vein. On 95', CSKA left-back Ángelo Martino was booked for holding, another sign of the home side’s reliance on tactical fouls to slow Qarabag’s progress. Martino was then substituted on 99', with Mohamed Amine Brahimi replacing him to offer fresher legs on the flank.

Qarabag made their final attacking adjustment on 100', introducing Musa Qurbanlı for Zakaria Sawo at centre-forward, seeking a more penalty-box-focused presence. The cautions, however, kept coming for CSKA: Teodor Ivanov was shown a yellow card for roughing on 105+3', as the hosts continued to defend aggressively deep into extra time.

Qarabag’s Bruno Langa, who had entered earlier, was booked for roughing on 106', momentarily disrupting Qarabag’s rhythm down the left. On 112', Joël Zwarts joined the list of cautioned CSKA players with a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct, emblematic of a tense, increasingly scrappy finale. Despite all the changes and physical battles, neither side could find a goal, sending the tie to penalties.

The shootout drama began on 120+1'. Qarabag struck first: 120+1' Qarabag goal — M. Jankovic (unassisted) converted from the spot in the penalty shootout. CSKA immediately replied: 120+1' CSKA Sofia goal — I. Pittas (unassisted) held his nerve to level the shootout.

The momentum swung on 120+2', when Matheus Silva missed his penalty for Qarabag, a crucial lapse that opened the door for CSKA. They capitalised instantly: 120+2' CSKA Sofia goal — T. Ivanov (unassisted) scored his kick to put the hosts ahead in the sequence.

Qarabag stayed alive at 120+3' with 120+3' Qarabag goal — J. Mouaddib (unassisted) converting under pressure, but CSKA matched them as 120+3' CSKA Sofia goal — J. Gbamin (unassisted) found the net with his effort.

The tension only increased. On 120+4', 120+4' Qarabag goal — R. Cephas (unassisted) scored to keep Qarabag in touch, but CSKA again responded: 120+4' CSKA Sofia goal — S. Sensi (unassisted) slotted home to maintain the home side’s edge.

At 120+5', Joni Montiel kept Qarabag’s hopes alive with 120+5' Qarabag goal — J. Montiel (unassisted), but the decisive moment arrived with CSKA’s next taker. 120+5' CSKA Sofia goal — J. Eto'o (unassisted) converted the final penalty, sealing a 5-4 shootout victory for CSKA Sofia after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.

Fixture Statistics & Tactical Audit

xG: not available vs not available
Possession: 42% vs 58%
Shots on Target: 3 vs 5
Goalkeeper Saves: not available vs not available
Blocked Shots: 3 vs 7

Qarabag were the more territorially dominant side (58% possession vs 42%) and carried the greater attacking volume with more shots on target (5 vs 3) and significantly more blocked efforts (7 vs 3), suggesting they spent longer in and around the CSKA box. CSKA’s approach was more reactive and physically intensive, reflected in a much higher foul count (26 vs 14) and a heavier disciplinary load, but they managed to keep Qarabag at arm’s length in terms of clear chances. Without xG data, the shot pattern still indicates Qarabag had the more consistent pressure, while CSKA prioritised compactness and survival, ultimately shifting the tie into a penalty scenario where their execution was flawless.

Standings Update & Seasonal Impact

With no league standings data provided for either CSKA Sofia or Qarabag, the impact can only be assessed in knockout terms. CSKA’s 0-0 draw followed by a 5-4 win on penalties ensures their progression from the UEFA Europa League 2nd Qualifying Round, extending their European campaign and the associated financial and sporting benefits. Qarabag, despite controlling more of the ball and generating the higher shot volume, are eliminated at this stage, curtailing their continental ambitions for the season.

Lineups & Personnel

CSKA Sofia Starting XI

GK: Fedor Lapoukhov
DF: Pastor, Teodor Ivanov, Facundo Rodríguez, Ángelo Martino
MF: Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Max Ebong, Stefano Sensi, Bruno Jordão
FW: Ioannis Pittas, Leandro Godoy

Qarabag Starting XI

GK: Mateusz Kochalski
DF: Matheus Silva, Bədavi Hüseynov, Bence Várkonyi, Elvin Cafarquliyev
MF: Pedro Bicalho, Marko Janković, Olexiy Kashchuk, Kady Borges, Abdellah Zoubir
FW: Zakaria Sawo

Post-Match Verdict

This was a defensively resilient performance from CSKA Sofia, who, despite conceding more shots on target (3 vs 5) and less possession (42% vs 58%), maintained their structure and accepted a high foul count (26 vs 14) as the price of disrupting Qarabag’s rhythm. Their attacking output was modest, but their composure from the spot — five successful penalties from five in the shootout — ultimately defined the tie.

For Qarabag, it was a frustratingly wasteful night. They were the more territorially dominant and shot-heavy side (more shots on target and more blocked shots, 7 vs 3), yet lacked the cutting edge to translate pressure into goals over 120 minutes. Their inability to convert that superiority into a lead, combined with a crucial missed penalty from Matheus Silva in the shootout, turned a statistically favourable performance into an early exit. In tactical terms, CSKA’s risk-averse, combative game plan was vindicated by the result, while Qarabag’s possession-based approach fell short in both penalty-box efficiency and high-pressure execution.